Does Diet Affect Anxiety?

Check out this answer from Consensus:

The research indicates that diet does affect anxiety, with healthier dietary patterns and specific nutrients being associated with reduced anxiety symptoms. Conversely, unhealthy dietary patterns are linked to increased anxiety. While some dietary interventions show promise, the evidence is mixed, and further high-quality studies are needed to establish definitive conclusions.

The relationship between diet and anxiety has garnered significant interest in recent years. Various studies have explored how different dietary patterns and specific nutrients may influence anxiety symptoms. This synthesis aims to present the key findings from multiple research papers on the impact of diet on anxiety.

Key Insights

• Healthy Dietary Patterns and Reduced Anxiety:
  • Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids, and “healthy” dietary patterns are associated with lower levels of anxiety1 5 7.
  • Specific dietary interventions, such as the Mediterranean diet, have shown promise in reducing anxiety symptoms8 10.
• Unhealthy Dietary Patterns and Increased Anxiety:
  • High-fat diets, high intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates, and “unhealthy” dietary patterns are linked to higher levels of anxiety1 8 9.
• Dietary Interventions and Anxiety:
  • Some studies indicate that dietary interventions can reduce anxiety symptoms, particularly in female samples2 3.
  • However, other studies found no significant effect of dietary interventions on anxiety, suggesting mixed results2 4 6.
• Specific Nutrients and Anxiety:
  • Micronutrients such as zinc, magnesium, selenium, and probiotics have been associated with reduced anxiety symptoms1.
  • Inadequate tryptophan and dietary protein intake are linked to higher anxiety levels1.
• Weight Loss and Anxiety:
  • There is no strong evidence that diet-induced weight loss has a beneficial effect on anxiety, although it does not appear to have a detrimental effect either4 6.

Does diet affect anxiety?

Jerome Palazzolo has answered Likely

An expert from Université Côte d’Azur in Psychology, Psychiatry

In addition to healthy guidelines such as eating a balanced diet, drinking enough water to stay hydrated, and limiting or avoiding alcohol and caffeine, there are many other dietary considerations that can help relieve anxiety. For example, complex carbohydrates are metabolized more slowly and therefore help maintain a more even blood sugar level, which creates a calmer feeling.

A diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits is a healthier option than eating a lot of simple carbohydrates found in processed foods. When you eat is also important. Don’t skip meals. Doing so may result in drops in blood sugar that cause you to feel jittery, which may worsen underlying anxiety.

The gut-brain axis is also very important, since a large percentage (about 95%) of serotonin receptors are found in the lining of the gut. Research is examining the potential of probiotics for treating both anxiety and depression.

Does diet affect anxiety?

George Patton has answered Likely

An expert from Royal Children’s Hospital in Child Development, Mental Health, Public Health

For the young person with an eating disorder, food will be closely linked to heightened anxiety and abstinence with reduced anxiety.